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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Boston Bruins: Missing Brad Marchand

The Boston Bruins have hit a rough
patch since the Vancouver game. Heading in to last night's game, the B’s are 2-1 since the Stanley
Cup Final rematch, but have not looked sharp in the wins. The Black
and Gold are missing their Little Ball of Hate, Brad Marchand.
Marchand was slapped with a five-game suspension for his hit on Sami
Salo in the Canuck game. His speed and ability to get under his
opponents’ skin are not easily replaced. Benoit Pouliot has taken
the majority of Marchand’s ice time and has played well. But Big
Ben plays a whole different style of game. Marchand should be back
this week against New Jersey.

The reaction to Marchand’s suspension
has been interesting. Primarily it has been one of surprise at the
length of the sentence. There has been discussion in the media of
whether the hit rated a suspension at all. The Bin’s take: it did,
but two games would have sent the message. Particularly in light of
the fact that Nashville’s Ryan Ellis had the exact same low-bridge
hit on the Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds and there not only was no
supplemental discipline, there was no penalty called on the ice.
Also, during the Bruins-Canadiens tilt, Habs D-man PK Subban took a
flying leap at the B’s David Krejci, leading with his elbow to
Krejci’s head. Subban got two minutes. Andrew Ference received four
for coming to the aid of his teammate. No supplemental discipline.
Hello…Brendan Shanahan…is there anyone home? The Bin is not big
on conspiracy theories but any objective read says someone upstairs
doesn’t like the Bruins. The key for Shanahan (whose job title
claims he’s concerned about player safety) is consistent
discipline. Not happening at this point.

While we’re on the subject of
Subban…you are playing with grown-ups, PK. Join them or get out.
Subban elbows Krejci in the head, and Ference jumps in to help his
forward. Andrew is the smallest defenseman on the B’s roster. He
can hold his own in a fight, but he’s no pugilist. Subban has 17
pounds on Ference. And…Subban turtles. Really turtles. Face down on
the ice hiding his mug in his gloves turtle. Ference ragdolled him
around a bit until the linesman broke it up. Perhaps PK should reread
the hockey code book. If you’re gonna play dirty, you will get into
fights. Man up. Be proud, Habs fans. Be very proud.